Old Madam Ren’s words carried a threatening undertone. No matter what, this matter wasn’t the Ren family’s fault. If it went to the authorities, those who would suffer would be the Kang family and Concubine Kang.

Unexpectedly, although Sister-in-law Kang’s face showed some embarrassment after hearing these words, her response was unequivocal, despite maintaining a respectful and humble tone: “What Old Ancestor says is reasonable. My sister-in-law has been spoiled by my mother-in-law since childhood, accustomed to being served hand and foot without doing any work. At home, she showed no respect for her elders, and as her sister-in-law, I didn’t want to argue with her. But I never expected she would ultimately do such shameless things—she’s brought complete disgrace to our old Kang family! Now, even if she were my husband’s real sister, I’d have no face to protect her. When this matter is concluded, even if you magnanimously don’t pursue her wrongs, our Kang family will take her back to clean house and give you an explanation.”

She paused, then continued: “As for reporting to the authorities… in this humble woman’s opinion, let’s forget it. It’s not that we’re afraid of reporting—after all, our Kang family has no intention of sparing that little wretch. If she dies, so be it—it would end everything. It’s just that for small households like us, though, climbing walls to steal men is despicable when spoken of, people would just curse at our backs for a while. We wouldn’t lose any flesh, and life would go on as before. But for great families like yours… You can’t afford such disgrace, right?”

Sister-in-law Kang’s sharp tongue left everyone in the room stunned.

Old Madam Ren’s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Sister-in-law Kang and said in a deep voice: “What do you mean by this?”

Seeing this, Sister-in-law Kang smiled: “Old Ancestor, don’t be angry. This humble woman comes from a small market household and can’t read many characters, let alone understand the rules of great families like yours. So this humble woman has always spoken directly—it might not sound pleasant, but please forgive me.”

As she spoke, Sister-in-law Kang looked up at Old Madam Ren, whose face was dark as water and severely dignified. Her gaze ultimately shifted slightly to rest on the remaining teacup lid beside Old Madam Ren’s hand: “This humble woman truly means nothing else by it. I just thought that with this incident, your Ren family might not want to make a big fuss. So on the way here, I spent the whole journey trying to persuade the Liu family people, considering everyone’s face. As for how to handle this matter, our Kang family naturally listens to you.”

Listening from inside the room, Ren Yaoqi couldn’t help but smile. This Sister-in-law Kang, was truly eloquent. If not for the difference in their statuses that made Sister-in-law Kang somewhat afraid of Old Madam Ren, she would probably be even more unrestrained.

“What did the Liu family bring? Who’s in charge?” Old Madam Ren lifted her eyelids slightly. Having managed the household for many years, Old Madam Ren wouldn’t be intimidated by Sister-in-law Kang’s few words. Though angry in her heart, she remained calm.

“Today I brought the Liu family’s old steward and Young Master Liu’s wet nurse, plus several young men to run errands,” Sister-in-law Kang replied.

Old Madam Ren sneered: “They think our Ren family is a vegetable garden? Any random cats and dogs dare come here to make trouble?” The Liu family had only sent servants, not a single master who could make decisions.

Sister-in-law Kang quickly smiled and explained: “Originally, Madam Liu sent her younger brother, a young man in his twenties. I was afraid he was young and impulsive, so I persuaded him to temporarily stay at an inn in town. If Old Ancestor wants to see him, I’ll have someone fetch him immediately.”

Old Madam Ren couldn’t help but glance at Sister-in-law Kang, then pointed to a guest seat nearby and said coolly: “Sit.”

Sister-in-law Kang sat down happily.

“As you said, the child is already gone. What person are these Liu family people still trying to claim?”

Earlier, Sister-in-law Kang had said Young Master Liu was the Liu family’s only heir, and they had originally looked down on Concubine Kang’s background, so they were unwilling to marry her. Now they were urgently trying to claim her only because this Liu family heir could no longer reproduce, so they remembered Concubine Kang, who had conceived secretly.

Though Old Madam Ren didn’t entirely believe Sister-in-law Kang’s words, at this moment, she couldn’t help but have doubts about the child in Concubine Kang’s belly.

Originally allowing Concubine Kang to enter the manor was not only because she was pregnant, but also because Old Madam Ren wanted someone to disgust Fifth Madam—this Concubine Kang’s timing was perfect. Otherwise, the Ren family wasn’t so easy to enter.

Sister-in-law Kang spoke as if laying her heart bare: “After the Liu family heard the child was gone, they originally thought we were deceiving them. Later, when they believed it, they said they wanted to seek justice from the Ren family. That Uncle Liu said the child in our sister-in-law’s belly might very well be the only bloodline the Liu family could leave behind, yet it was just gone like that.” Sister-in-law Kang glanced at Old Madam Ren. “This humble woman could see they were unwilling to accept it, so they came looking for trouble. That’s why I found ways to persuade Uncle Liu to hold back.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Ren sneered inwardly, thinking that the Liu family was probably taking the opportunity to extort them. The Liu family was unknown, though Sister-in-law Kang called them a wealthy household in Jizhou, Old Madam Ren was very clear about what great families existed in Yanbei. In her eyes, families like the Lius were just declining households too lowly to be taken seriously—she didn’t take them to heart.

However, Sister-in-law Kang had said one thing correctly—this matter truly couldn’t be made public, or the Ren family would lose all face. Her son, Fifth Master Ren Shimao, would also have no face to see people in the future.

Just as Old Madam Ren was secretly considering countermeasures, commotion arose outside again.

“Old Madam, Concubine Kang requests an audience,” reported a maid guarding the door through the curtain.

Sister-in-law Kang instinctively turned to look, the corner of her mouth curling slightly with apparent disdain.

Old Madam Ren now felt nauseated hearing Concubine Kang’s name, but after thinking, she still ordered her to be brought in.

Concubine Kang was supported in by someone, with white cloth tied around her forehead. Her face was snow-white without a trace of color, and her small face had shrunk to palm-size, giving her a pitiable quality. Though from a small household with unremarkable looks, to be fair, Concubine Kang was still quite presentable.

Upon entering, Concubine Kang first swept her gaze across Sister-in-law Kang’s face, hatred flashing briefly in her eyes. Then she broke free from the servant’s support and staggered to kneel before Old Madam Ren, right beside the teacup Old Madam Ren had smashed earlier. It was unclear whether there were porcelain shards under her knees.

Old Madam Ren didn’t even glance at Concubine Kang, who bit her lip and kowtowed in greeting to Old Madam.

Sister-in-law Kang watched coldly from the side, now showing a mocking smile: “You still dare to come? If I were you, I’d have already used my belt to hang myself from a beam. You’ve brought complete shame to the Kang family.”

After finishing her greeting, Concubine Kang looked at Sister-in-law Kang with fear and hatred in her eyes: “Sister-in-law, why won’t you let me go? At home, you were always looking for ways to trade me for benefits. Now that I’ve left the Kang family, why do you still target me everywhere?”

Sister-in-law Kang couldn’t help but spit and point at Concubine Kang angrily: “You lying little whore, always causing trouble at home. Me targeting you? I don’t have that much free time! You behaved improperly yourself—first seducing Young Master Liu, trying to climb higher, then, when you saw he’d become simple-minded, you turned to scheme against Fifth Master Ren. Now the Liu family has come knocking, and you still want to argue?”

Concubine Kang’s face paled further, looking like a transparent crystal person. With tears brimming in her eyes, she turned to Old Madam Ren: “Old Madam, don’t believe her. She’s slandering me—I didn’t do it.”

Sister-in-law Kang scoffed: “I’m slandering you? Did I bring the Liu family here? Did I bribe Young Master Liu’s servant? Are you and Young Master Liu innocent? Dare you swear on the Kang family ancestors’ graves?”

Concubine Kang felt dizzy, her knees trembling, but she looked at Old Madam Ren: “I didn’t… I…”

Old Madam Ren watched the sister-in-law and sister-in-law coldly, not moving a muscle.

Concubine Kang closed her eyes, looked at Sister-in-law Kang, and tears flowed down: “Where’s Father? I want to see Father—he’ll believe me and give me justice. Where’s Brother? Why didn’t Brother come?”

Sister-in-law Kang sneered: “Father has been angered to near death and is still unconscious. As for your brother… he’s a grown man—he can’t afford such shame!”

Concubine Kang stared blankly at Sister-in-law Kang, then turned to look at Old Madam Ren, her eyes filled with despair and grievance.

After a long while, she sniffled, straightened her kneeling posture, and looked at Old Madam Ren with reddened eyes: “Old Madam, this concubine is wronged, this concubine…”

As she spoke, she suddenly found strength from somewhere, quickly stood up, and crashed toward the pillar beside the antique shelf on the right.

The three Ren sisters sitting in the east side room didn’t dare make a sound. Before they could react to what was happening, they suddenly heard a loud “bang” from the pillar next to them.

A glazed qilin ornament and a blue and white porcelain vase fell from the antique shelf to the ground.

A maid serving Ren Yaoyin cried out, “Ah——!”

But none of the three sisters—Ren Yaoqi, Ren Yaohua, and Ren Yaoyin—made a sound. Ren Yaohua reacted quickly, grabbing Ren Yaoqi’s sleeve and pulling her up, retreating several steps inward. Ren Yaoyin also stood up and moved back to avoid the scene.

At the same time, Old Madam Ren’s somewhat shocked and angry voice came from next door: “Check on her and call a physician into the manor!”